D&D 5E Can Moonbeam out-right destroy a vampire?

[MiraMels]

I wanted to double-check a ruling with you all. I'm prepping a vampire boss fight, and one of my player is a druid who is very fond of moonbeam. So, I'm looking it over. If a vampire gets dropped to 0 hit points after failing their saving throw against moonbeam, but before leaving the light of the spell, would they be destroyed outright?

From the relevant rules-text:
"A shapechanger makes its saving throw with disadvantage. If it fails, it also instantly reverts to its original form and can't assume a new form until it leaves the spell's light." [from the moonbeam spell description]

"When it drops to 0 hit points outside its resting place, the vampire transforms into a cloud of mist (as in the Shapechanger trait) instead of falling unconscious, provided that it isn't in sunlight or running water. If it can't transform, it is destroyed." [from the Vampire Monster Manual entry]

Have I got that right? Can you destroy a vampire a 2nd-level spell?

 

[Sword of Spirit]

It sure sounds like it.

 

[MechaPilot]

Don't mess with those druids. They have ancient and spooky ways, and they're more dangerous than you know.

 

[gyor]

Yep, Moonlight kills it, which sounds weird given moonlight and vampires normally go together, you know the whole creature of the night.

 

[Tormyr]

Moonbeam takes effect on a creature's turn (i.e. it takes a second or two to start the sizzling). The vampire can use the Move legendary action to escape the moonbeam before its turn starts.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

Moonbeam takes effect on a creature's turn (i.e. it takes a second or two to start the sizzling). The vampire can use the Move legendary action to escape the moonbeam before its turn starts.

That makes it more interesting. So it is a way to kill a vampire, but you have to get him worn out and distracted (ie, use up his legendary actions for the turn) in order for it to work.

 

[Al2O3]

Moonbeam+grapple when the vampire is almost dead.

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[akr71]

Is the Moonlight spell 'sunlight' though? Without getting into the semantics that moonlight is in fact sunlight reflected off the surface of the moon...

I mean the OP quoted the MM entry as "provided that it isn't in sunlight or running water." Does the spell's description say that it is 'sunlight?' If not, then I would rule no. Sunbeam for sure, yes.

 

[Al2O3]

Is the Moonlight spell 'sunlight' though? Without getting into the semantics that moonlight is in fact sunlight reflected off the surface of the moon...

I mean the OP quoted the MM entry as "provided that it isn't in sunlight or running water." Does the spell's description say that it is 'sunlight?' If not, then I would rule no. Sunbeam for sure, yes.

Anything that prevents shapeshanging in general prevents it for a vampire and thus destroys it. Moonbeam prevents shapeshanging. Thus it can destroy a vampire. Moonbeam also reveals doppelgangers, succubi and lycanthropes.

Vampires have two additional effects that prevents it from changing shape: sunlight and running water. So moonbeam can finish them off because it reveals the true form, not because it is similar to sunlight.

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[MiraMels]

Moonbeam takes effect on a creature's turn (i.e. it takes a second or two to start the sizzling). The vampire can use the Move legendary action to escape the moonbeam before its turn starts.

Mhm! The vampire also specifically has to fail a save against the spell before their shape shifting will be restricted, so their Legendary Resistance trait will help to make sure that doesn't happen.